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ABIGAIL WILLIAMS – Apostles Of Darkness Over The Americas Tour Begins March 9th, 2011!

Posted in Black Metal, Death Metal, Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal concerts, heavy metal festivals, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 9, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

ABIGAIL WILLIAMS – their thirty date North American tour alongside Melechesh, Hate, Lecherous Nocturne and headliners Rotting Christ embarks this Wednesday, March 9th in Virginia. Dubbed the Apostles Of Darkness Over The Americas, this massive Black/Death tour lineup shall easily prove to be one of the most Extreme Metal tours of 2011 so far.

Apostles Of Darkness Over The Americas:

ABIGAIL WILLIAMS with Melechesh, Hate, Lecherous Nocturne and headliners – Rotting Christ:

3/09/2011 Jaxx – West Springfield, VA

3/10/2011 Championship Bar & Grill – Trenton, NJ

3/11/2011 Montage Music Hall – Rochester, NY

3/12/2011 Rocko’s – Manchester, NH

3/13/2011 The Palladium – Worcester, MA

3/14/2011 Crazy Donkey – Farmingdale, NY

3/15/2011 Petite Campus – Montreal, QC

3/16/2011 Mod Club – Toronto, ON

3/17/2011 Blondie’s – Detroit, MI

3/18/2011 Peabody’s – Cleveland, OH

3/19/2011 Reggie’s Rock Club – Chicago, IL

3/20/2011 Station 4 – St. Paul, MN

3/22/2011 The Republik – Calgary, AB

3/23/2011 Starlite Room – Edmonton, AB

3/25/2011 El Corazon – Seattle, WA

3/26/2011 Hawthorne Theatre – Portland, OR

3/27/2011 DNA Lounge – San Francisco, CA

3/28/2011 Chain Reaction – Anaheim, CA

3/29/2011 The Key Club – Hollywood, CA

3/30/2011 Brick by Brick – San Diego, CA

3/31/2011 U.B’s Bar – Mesa, AZ

4/01/2011 The War Legion Underground – Amarillo, TX

4/02/2011 The Marquee – Tulsa, OK

4/03/2011 Rail Club – Ft. Worth, TX

4/04/2011 Emo’s – Austin, TX

4/05/2011 Walter’s – Houston, TX

4/07/2011 Brass Mug – Tampa, FL

4/08/2011 The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA

4/09/2011 Volume 11 – Raleigh, NC

4/10/2011 The Casbah – Charlotte, NC

ABIGAIL WILLIAMS’ latest album In The Absence Of Light was released in September via Candlelight. Recorded at Conquistador Studios in Cleveland and mixed by Peter Tagtgren (Dimmu Borgir, Immortal, Celtic Frost) at Black Lounge Studios in Sweden, the album presents founder/vocalist/guitarist Sorceron with new guitarist Ian Jekelis and drummer Ken Bedene. The album’s eight songs, written exclusively by Sorceron, contain far more urgency then the band’s previous material, cutting down on snyth and keyboards without depleting their crushing atmospheric capabilities, while adding a more brutal, sinister edge to their attack.

(Source: Earsplit PR)

LONG LIVE ABIGAIL WILLIAMS.

LONG LIVE EXTREME METAL.

Stone.

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AMON AMARTH – “AN EVENING WITH” U.S. TOUR DATES FOR APRIL & MAY 2011!

Posted in concerts, Death Metal, Heavy Metal, melodic death metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on March 9, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

AMON AMARTH – Now we’re getting serious with Metal, real Metal, invading our U.S. shores… and this is a Metal invasion I welcome with Metal glee. AMON AMARTH. Those two words alone are equivalent to top tier. (Actually, the Sindarin translation for AMON AMARTH means: Mount Doom). This Melodic Death Metal giant of a viking band, from Sweden, is back in 2011… stronger, louder and more Metal victorious than ever!

Surtur Rising marks AMON AMARTH‘s eighth studio release and undoubtedly one of 2011’s most anticipated albums by fans and critics alike. In celebration of its release, the band will embark on 2011 U.S. headlining tour next month. Simply dubbed “An Evening With AMON AMARTH,” this very special trek will find the band touring without support and instead performing two separate sets each night. One set will include the performance of Surtur Rising in its entirety.

AMON AMARTH:
Johan Hegg: Vocals
Olavi Mikkonen: Guitar
Johan Söderberg: Guitar
Ted Lundström: Bass
Fredrik Andersson: Drums

An Evening With AMON AMARTH:

4/14/2011 – The Bottom Lounge – Chicago, IL
4/15/2011 – Station 4 – Saint Paul, MN
4/16/2011 – Granada Theater – Lawrence, KS
4/17/2011 – The Summit Music Hall – Denver, CO
4/19/2011 – Wonder Ballroom – Portland, OR
4/20/2011 – Showbox Sodo – Seattle, WA
4/22/2011 – The Regency – San Francisco, CA
4/23/2011 – Ace Of Spades – Sacramento, CA
4/24/2011 – House of Blues – West Hollywood, CA
4/25/2011 – Nile Theatre – Mesa, AZ
4/27/2011 – White Rabbit – San Antonio, TX
4/29/2011 – Culture Room – Fort Lauderdale, FL
4/30/2011 – Beacham Theatre – Orlando, FL
5/01/2011 – Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
5/02/2011 – Jaxx – Springfield, VA
5/03/2011 – Peabody’s – Cleveland, OH
5/05/2011 – Best Buy Theater – New York, NY
5/06/2011 – Theatre Of Living Arts – Philadelphia, PA
5/07/2011 – Paradise Rock Club – Boston, MA

* For more info on AMON AMARTH, click the links below:

AMON AMARTH – Official Website

http://www.myspace.com/amonamarth

http://www.facebook.com/AmonAmarthBand

http://twitter.com/amonamarthband

(Source: Earsplit PR)

LONG LIVE AMON AMARTH.

Stone.

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HEMOPTYSIS – Ink Deal With Rock It Up/IceWarrior Records!

Posted in Black Metal, Death Metal, Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, Thrash Metal with tags , , , , , , , , , , on March 8, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Phoenix, Arizona – March 8th, 2011 – On the same day that their first full length album is released (Misanthropic Slaughter), Phoenix based Metallers HEMOPTYSIS are proud to announce that they have signed a licensing deal with German label – Rock It Up/IceWarrior Records. Click here to check them out: Rock It Up / IceWarrior Records

Commented vocalist/guitarist Masaki Murashita: “We are proud to be working with such a great group of people. Franko at Rock It Up has really done an amazing job in making this deal happen. We look forward to our continued success throughout Europe and we hope to be playing many shows over there in the near future”.

Misanthropic Slaughter is available worldwide online now at this location: http://www.misanthropicslaughter.com as well as iTunes, Amazon.com and other fine online retailers. Misanthropic Slaughter will hit stores throughout Europe in late April of 2011 via Rock It Up Records.

METAL ODYSSEY CONGRATULATES HEMOPTYSIS! HORNS UP!

GO KICK SOME F’N METAL ASS HEMOPTYSIS!

Misanthropic Slaughter Track Listing:

Misanthropic Slaughter

Hopeless

M.O.D.

Impending Doom

And The World Dies

Interlude

The Cycle

Blood Storm

Shadow of Death

Hadephobia

End of Sorrow

HEMOPTYSIS is:

Masaki Murashita – vocals & guitar

Ryan Miller – lead guitar

Sunao Arai – bass

Travis Thune – drums

* For more info on HEMOPTYSIS, click the links below:

HEMOPTYSIS – REVERBNATION

HEMOPTYSIS – Official Website

HEMOPTYSIS – myspace music

HEMOPTYSIS – Facebook

LONG LIVE HEMOPTYSIS.

Stone.

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Withering Soul “No Closure” Releases Today, March 8th, 2011!

Posted in Black Metal, Death Metal, Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on March 8, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

WITHERING SOUL – No Closure from Chicago’s WITHERING SOUL sees release today, March 8th, 2011 through Mortal Music. X-Plosive Metal called No Closure a “brilliant record”, The Offering Webzine dubbed it “a great Black Metal album” and Blistering.com declared it “a great album”.

No Closure is a combination of Symphonic Black Metal and Melodic Death Metal with some Gothic overtones thrown in as well. As an added treat, guest backing vocals have been provided by Melissa Ferlaak. Inclusive of quality Scandinavian influences, but now with mature competency, Withering Soul have carved out their own path that is destined to generate a buzz in the underground and capture fans across the board.

(Source: Clawhammer PR)

* For more info on Withering Soul, click the links below:

WITHERING SOUL – REVERBNATION

WITHERING SOUL – Official Website

Wanna read my album review for No Closure? Just click the big header link below!

Withering Soul – “No Closure” Explodes With Black Metal Impressiveness

LONG LIVE WITHERING SOUL.

Stone.

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CHIMAIRA “Wild Thing” Cover Song – A Horns Up To Charlie Sheen’s “Major League” Movie And Available Now at iTunes!

Posted in Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, metalcore, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on March 7, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

(New York, NY) – CHIMAIRA joined in the fun of celebrating Charlie Sheen last week by covering the song “Wild Thing” in the studio, a tribute to Charlie Sheen’s 1989 hit comedy movie “Major League”. “We had some fun at the studio”, says Chimaira’s front man Mark Hunter.

Chimaira is currently in the studio finishing up their upcoming record to be released later this year. Recently signing a new record deal with eOne Music for North America, South America and Japan, Mark Hunter offers: “We are excited to start the new decade with a team that believes in our music, has our back and thinks outside the box. eOne are one of the very few labels out there who still give a damn about the genre and Chimaira are proud to be a part of that. Expect great things in 2011”.

Chimaira released their album “The Infection” back in 2009 to serious critical acclaims with hit singles “Secrets of the Dead” and “Destroy and Dominate”, which claimed the #30 spot on the Billboard Top 200 chart. Their most recent effort was a three disc live DVD, which also features a documentary about the band called “Coming Alive”.

* Over the past 10 years, Chimaira has sold close to 500,000 albums.

A “Wild Thing” song history, (see below), brought to you by Metal Odyssey’s Stone:

* “Wild Thing” was written by songwriter Chip Taylor, (real name: James Wesley Voight), who was born in New York City. This iconic Rock ‘n’ Roll song was originally recorded by The Wild Ones back in 1965. The English Rock Band – The Troggs covered “Wild Thing” back in 1966 and reached #1 in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100 in July of 1966.

Stone’s “Wild Thing” Cover Song Review:

Okay, I bought this cover song of “Wild Thing” from iTunes today. It realistically served me right. I never thought I would be saying this about Chimaira… they actually made a (gulp) “fun” song. This cover version has it’s Metal grooves happening with plenty of crunch. Yes, Mark Hunter still sounds quite pissed off vocally, so don’t worry all of you Chimaira die-hards out there! “Wild Thing” clocks in at 2:30 long, so it’s no epic, it’s just a good Metal kick-in-the-ass to kick start my day. Or is that kick start my night? A Must Metal buy for only $1.29!

CHIMAIRA:

Mark Hunter – vocals

Matt DeVries – guitar

Rob Arnold – guitar

Andols Herrick – drums

Chris Spicuzza – keyboards, samples & backing vocals

* For more info on CHIMAIRA, click the links below:

CHIMAIRA – Official Website

CHIMAIRA – myspace music

CHIMAIRA – Official Facebook

CHIMAIRA (chimairaband) On Twitter

* You can preview and/or buy Chimaira’s cover song “Wild Thing” at iTunes by clicking on the link below!

http://bit.ly/eRJQ0z

(Source: eOne Music)

* Metal Odyssey receives 0% compensation from iTunes for directing you to their store for making a song purchase. This is all done in good Metal faith, to assist all fellow Metalheads worldwide, in finding easy access to this new Chimaira song. Metal be thy name.

LONG LIVE CHIMAIRA.

Stone.

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FAITHSEDGE – Releasing Self-Titled Debut On April 19th, 2011! Album Details and Some Metal Thoughts…

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, melodic metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, progressive metal, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on March 6, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

FAITHSEDGE – What do you get when you combine Heavy Metal and Hard Rock with a bit of Progressive sound and style? FAITHSEDGE is the Metal answer. FAITHSEDGE will be releasing their self-titled debut album on April 19th, 2011, via Scarlet Records. This “new” band can surely be recognized as a supergroup, only the ego’s appear to be non-existent, based on the quality Heavy Music I’m listening to. Five songs are currently streaming on the official FAITHSEDGE website and they are worth every second of your Metal time to check out! (See link at bottom of post)

Making up this veteran lineup of musicians that are FAITHSEDGE: Giancarlo Floridia on lead vocals and guitar, has worked alongside world respected producers Mike Talanca (David Bowie/Foreigner) and Juan Croucier (ex-Ratt) along with others. Songwriter as well, Giancarlo founded FAITHSEDGE in 2009, in Huntington Beach, California. Well known bass guitarist and producer Fabrizio Grossi has worked alongside numerous names in the music industry, including: Alice Cooper, Steve Lukather, George Clinton, Ice T and Cypress Hill, to name a many few.

Alex De Rosso on lead guitar has played “live” lead guitar for Dokken, while touring the globe with them. Alex De Rosso is without a doubt, a widely respected guitarist amongst his peers in the recording industry and has worked alongside some of the very best. Tony Morra on drums owns his own studio in Nashville, Tennessee (the Downtown Batterie) and has played with Rebecca St. James and Van Zant to name a couple.

I’d like to tell the world that I really dig what I hear thus far from FAITHSEDGE. There is a Classic Rock meets Classic Metal feel and vibe that jumps right out of the songs from this band. Giancarlo on vocals sounds excellent, lending plenty of emotion to the lyrics. After listening to Giancarlo, you just might think he is a standout vocalist and guitarist with Arena Rock roots, stretching back to those glory days we call the 80’s. Psyche-you-out guitar licks are aplenty, which gives this band it’s heavy and melodic muscle.

Collectively (not to leave out anyone) FAITHSEDGE plays tight, melodic Hard Rock and Heavy Metal that spills over with many memorable moments for me. This is top quality, this is FAITHSEDGE. These are songs that are worthy of being heard live and loud in any venue on this planet. Metal be thy name.

* Phil Vincent – provides additional background vocals.

This FAITHSEDGE album was:

* Produced, recorded and mixed by Fabrizio Grossi.

* Recorded at Noize Factor Studio (Valencia, CA).

* Mastered by Tom Baker at Precision Mastering (Hollywood, CA).

Track Listing for FAITHSEDGE (partial due to availability)

Another Chance

Let It End This Way

Somewhere In Your Heart

The World Keep Falling Down

There’s Still Hope

* Album cover picture by: Richard Crosthwaite

* Album cover model: Jessica Renee Wilson

* For more info on FAITHSEDGE, just click the links below:

FAITHSEDGE – Official Website

SCARLET RECORDS

LONG LIVE FAITHSEDGE.

LONG LIVE ESKI.

Stone.

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CALIFORNIA METALFEST V – AS I LAY DYING Headlines On Saturday, March 19th, 2011! Bands Listed!

Posted in Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal favorites, metal music, metal odyssey, metalcore, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on March 6, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

CALIFORNIA METALFEST V – This looks like an extremely cool Metalfest to me! Tim Lambesis (vocalist & founding member) of As I Lay Dying is a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist that I applaud tremendously, in this vast world of Metal. I consider Tim to be a prodigious Metal talent. The Powerless Rise (Metal Blade) is the most recent album from As I Lay Dying and one that I listen to consistently. As I Lay Dying tears it apart, per usual, on this strong album of Metal.

It’s the Extreme side of As I Lay Dying that made me gravitate to them in the first place, mixing multiple styles of Metal together to form their own standout sound. Metalcore, Metal and Extreme… we can play the genre game all day long here, just know that As I Lay Dying is one substantial Metal band out there today. Man, I wish this California Metalfest V was just down the street from me! Two words for any Metalhead that is going to this show… you lucky.

I get the biggest Metal kick out of Tim’s side project world-known as Austrian Death Machine. The Thrashin’ Death grooves that Tim Lambesis has created with Austrian Death Machine are infectious to my Metal lovin’ ears. Plus, the parody of Arnold Schwarzenegger through the character (voice-over) of “Ahhhnold” is just (gulp) fun Metal stuff. I recommend any rabid Metal fan out there to get their ears into Austrian Death Machine (if you already haven’t).

The above CALIFORNIA METALFEST V poster pretty much says it all when it comes to any general Metal info!

* For more necessary info like directions/how to buy tickets, click link below:

City National Grove Of Anaheim

* For more Metal info on AS I LAY DYING, click link below:

AS I LAY DYING – myspace music

LONG LIVE CALIFORNIA METALFEST.

LONG LIVE METAL.

Stone.

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KISS, JOURNEY and DAUGHTRY – HEADLINING ROCK USA 2011 FESTIVAL IN OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN!

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock festivals, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 5, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

ROCK USA 2011 – It’s spectacular Rock ‘n’ Roll news! KISS, Journey and Daughtry will be headlining the Rock USA 2011 festival at Ford Festival Park in the great city of Oshkosh, Wisconsin! This extremely cool Rock USA 2011 will take place on July 14th, 15th and 16th. There is a “TBA” (to be announced) shown, so we will stay tuned as to what band is added! The three days of band lineups for Rock USA 2011 are listed below. These lineups are current with the Rock USA 2011 website as of March 29th, 2011:

JULY 14TH BAND LINEUPS:

DAUGHTRY

BUCKCHERRY

PUDDLE OF MUDD

CHEAP TRICK

BOXKAR

JULY 15TH BAND LINEUPS:

JOURNEY

LYNYRD SKYNYRD

TBA

CANDLEBOX

WARRANT

HYDE

JULY 16TH BAND LINEUPS:

KISS

KORN

HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD

DOKKEN

ROAD TRIP

KINDRED SOUL

You did read that right… CHEAP TRICK, BUCKCHERRY, LYNYRD SKYNYRD and KORN are on the bill too! Metal be thy name, this looks to be one incredibly potent lineup of bands!!

* My Metal research has found that Oshkosh, Wisconsin has a population of 64,592, with a metropolitan population of 160,000. These are 2007 statistics.

* For all info including ticket info just click on the links below:

ROCK USA OSHKOSH 2011 – Official Website

ROCK USA OSHKOSH 2011 – Facebook

LONG LIVE THE ROCK USA FESTIVAL.

LONG LIVE THE POWER OF ROCK ‘N’ ROLL.

Stone.

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Rock Jamberoni – A Dream Album Of Classic Rock, Southern Rock and Heavy Metal Jams!

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news, southern rock with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on March 5, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

ROCK JAMBERONI – Have you ever wished for that one day, when you were handed the golden keys to a record company by being named it’s Chief Executive Officer? With this newly bestowed title, you are now able to create that one Rock ‘n’ Roll album that forges your name alongside the legends of Rock ‘n’ Roll history? Well, yesterday I received word via email that my Rock ‘n’ Roll wish has been granted. For today only, I have been officially designated as the CEO and producer for Coverdale Records.

Given my new found Rock ‘n’ Roll power, I’ve decided to take up the fun task of compiling an album of legendary songs. These songs feature kick ass Classic Rock, Southern Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal jams! These jams aren’t just merely a guitar solo heard at the beginning or during the middle of a song, these are full-throttle instrumental jams that last more than a minute with total band participation. Below is the album track listing of such legendary jam songs… and I’m titling this revved-up album – Rock Jamberoni. The expected release date is March 24, 2011. Enjoy!

Rock Jamberoni – Track Listing:

Green Grass and High Tides – The Outlaws

Fall of the Peacemakers – Molly Hatchet

Highway Song – Blackfoot

Freebird – Lynyrd Skynyrd

Working Man – Rush

Whole Lotta Rosie – AC/DC

Wasted White Boys – W.A.S.P.

Hallowed Be Thy Name – Iron Maiden

Fade To Black – Metallica

Beyond the Realms of Death – Judas Priest

Layla – Derek and the Dominos

Diamonds For Eyes – Whitestarr

* Bonus Track:

Hocus Pocus – Focus

Life Is One Gigantic Jam Session!

Scott Coverdale.

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COLD – U.S. Tour Dates For March And April 2011!

Posted in alternative metal, alternative rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal odyssey, Music, rock concerts, rock music, rock music news, rock tours with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on March 4, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

COLD – Hitting the road in support of their upcoming fifth album Superfiction, COLD will be playing the dates/venues listed below. Superfiction will be released on June 28th, 2011, on Eleven Seven/SonicStar Records. This Alternative Metal/Hard Rock sound from COLD has earned them two Gold Records in the United States: 13 Ways To Bleed (2000) and Year of the Spider (2003). Releasing their debut/self titled album back in 1998, COLD has weathered the trends of the Rock music industry, while continuously increasing their fan base over the span of two decades… and they are back in 2011!

* The last studio album from COLD was: A Different Kind of Pain, released back in 2005 on Lava Records.

* COLD originates from Jacksonville, Florida.

COLD:

Scooter Ward – vocals, keyboards & guitar

Zach Gilbert – guitar

Jeremy Marshall – bass & vocals

Sam McCandless – drums

Drew Molleur – guitar

* Check out (below) the lead single from the forthcoming COLD studio album Superfiction. The song is titled: Wicked World.  I dig it… hope you do too. This song/picture box is courtesy of Eleven Seven Music.

U.S. Tour Dates – March/April 2011:

03/15/11 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade

03/17/11 – Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head

03/18/11 – Albany, NY @ Northern Lights

03/19/11 – Allentown, PA @ Crocodile Rock

03/21/11 – New York, NY @ The Gramercy Theatre

03/22/11 – Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom

03/24/11 – Sayerville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom

03/25/11 – Hartford, CT @ Webster Theatre

03/26/11 – Manchester, NH @ Rocko’s

03/27/11 – Watertown, NY @ The Exhibition Hall

03/29/11 – Cleveland, OH @ Peabody’s

03/31/11 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Altar Bar

04/01/11 – Columbus, OH @ Al Rosa

04/02/11 – Detroit, MI @ Harpo’s Concert Theatre

04/05/11 – Sauget, IL @ Pop’s

04/06/11 – Chicago, IL @ Mojoe’s

04/08/11 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave

04/08/11 – Milwaukee, WI @ Eagles Club/The Rave/Eagles Ballroom

04/10/11 – Cedar Falls, IA @ The Wheelhouse

04/13/11 – Denver, Colorado @ The Summit Music Hall

* For more info on COLD, click here: COLD – myspace music

LONG LIVE COLD.

Stone.

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HELSTAR – Announce New Texas and NYC Area Shows!

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal bands, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , on March 3, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

HELSTAR – Riding high on the incredible response to their recently released seventh full-length Glory Of Chaos, Houston’s HELSTAR are busy booking live appearances for the coming months. In addition to their appearance this weekend at the San Antonio Metalfest, several brand new Summer appearances have also been confirmed, both in their home state of Texas as well as two appearances in Northern New Jersey, with more to be announced for New York City and more shortly.

HELSTAR Confirmed Live Appearances:

3/05/2011 The Dorm – San Antonio, TX

6/17/2011 The Rail – Fort Worth, TX

6/18/2011 Dirty Dog – Austin, TX

6/24/2011 Dingbatz – Clifton, NJ

6/25/2011 *TBA – New York, NY

Released in North America via AFM Records in early February, HELSTAR’s Glory Of Chaos is a ballsy, blazing full-length display of pure American heavy metal, taking their classic sound to aggressive new measures on the new album.

(Source: Earsplit PR)

* For more info on HELSTAR, click the links below:

HELSTAR – Official Website

HELSTAR – myspace music

LONG LIVE HELSTAR.

Stone.

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REV THEORY – “Justice” Billboard Chart Positions For Week of March 5th, 2011! Some Metal Thoughts…

Posted in Hard Rock, hard rock albums, Heavy Metal, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , on March 2, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

REV THEORY – For the week of March 5th, 2011, the third studio album, Justice, from the Hard Rockin’ Rev Theory debuted at #75 on the Billboard 200 Chart. This is refreshing news, especially when the Billboard 200 Chart is saturated with watered down, commercial, bubble gum and flavor-of-the-month (ahem) “music”. Now, it’s time for Rev Theory to serve up some “Justice” on the Billboard charts.

I will readily admit, Justice is one heavy hitter for my ears. This album is loaded with songs that are guitar driven and packed with melodic crunch. The first three songs alone are very memorable: Dead In A Grave, Justice and Hangman just lead right into a complete album of songs that prove Rev Theory weren’t aiming to play it safe.

Rich Luzzi sounds tough as ever on vocals, with not one note being over stretched. The guitar duo of Julien Jorgensen and Lixx are more potent than ever, with Dave Agoglia (drums) and Matty McCloskey (bass) laying down some of the smoothest and coolest beats I’ve heard in a very long time. If your shopping around for a newly released Hard Rock album that kicks some genuine ass, Rev Theory ‘s Justice is the answer.

* Justice was released on February 15, 2011, on Interscope Records/DGC Records and produced by Terry Date.

GO GET ‘EM REV THEORY!

REV THEORY – JUSTICE Billboard chart (debut) positions for the week of March 5th, 2011:

Billboard 200 – #75

Rock Albums – #20

Alternative Albums – #11

Hard Rock Albums – #5

REV THEORY:

Rich Luzzi – lead vocals

Julien Jorgensen – guitar

Rikki Lixx – guitar, backing vocals

Matty McCloskey – bass, backing vocals

Dave Agoglia – drums

Track Listing For Justice:

Dead In A Grave

Justice

Hangman

The Fire

Loaded Gun

Guilty By Design

Enemy Within

Wicked Wonderland

Say Goodbye

Never Again

Hollow Man

* For more info on REV THEORY, click the links below:

REV THEORY – myspace music

REV THEORY – Official Website

LONG LIVE REV THEORY.

Stone.

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Metal Odyssey Celebrates Two Year Anniversary!

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on March 1, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

METAL ODYSSEY – Back on March 1st, 2009, I started this Metal Odyssey – Heavy Metal Music Blog. As days, weeks and months passed by, I realized that Classic Rock, Punk Rock, Rock, Hard Rock and even Folk Rock were being consumed by my ears all of my life as well. It’s the Rock classics of yesteryear that made me the Metalhead I am today anyways! With so many Rock genres crossing my Metal path, I began to write album reviews and commentary about them. So, a union of Rock ‘n’ Roll sort of happened within a two year period on Metal Odyssey. My first love is Metal, yet I’m a bona fide Rockaholic. If it Rocks, I’m listening and blabbing… regardless of genre.

* I chose to show the album cover for Slayer’s Show No Mercy at the top of this post for one simple reason: this album represents my coming of Metal age as a young lad… when the bands I began to follow were no longer available at my Caldor department store!

Without making a huge list of names, I want to say THANK YOU:

* To all the visitors and subscribers to Metal Odyssey. Without you Rockin’ guys and gals, there would be no reason to even have this blog! Really. Sure, I enjoy writing about music… only it is extremely more enjoyable knowing that my “stuff” is actually being read by others who either agree or disagree with me. I thank all the visitors and fellow Metalheads for their comments!

* To all the bands and musicians who I’ve interviewed and/or became friends with during the past two years. It’s Rockin’ guys and gals like you, who’ve inspired me to listen better and write all the more about Metal and Rock ‘n’ Roll.

* To all my peer Rock, Hard Rock and Metal bloggers out there. Many I have become Metal buddies with and I can’t describe just how cool that makes me feel! Rob Rockitt at HARD ROCK HIDEOUT, Kinger at Demolish Fanzine – 1980’s Heavy Metal Revival and Metal Mark at Heavy Metal Time Machine… thank you for listening to my whining and helping me out as often as you do. Gee Metal whiz you guys ROCK.

* To all the incredibly cool PR guys and gals who have been instrumental in helping Metal Odyssey have the Metal muscle to deliver the Metal goods! Metal be thy name.

* A special thank you to my wife and Scott Coverdale for their support! Coverdale’s Metal research is a splendid thing and he is embarking on being a contributing writer for Metal Odyssey too!

* Anyone that I forgot to thank… THANK YOU!

* To read the very first post I ever wrote for Metal Odyssey, just click that big header link below. When I read it now I get embarrassed.

HEAVY METAL & HARD ROCK RULES.

LONG LIVE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL.

LONG LIVE METAL.

The word “splendid” was used in this post.

Stone.

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KOPEK – “White Collar Lies” Releases March 1st, 2011!

Posted in Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal odyssey, modern rock, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , on February 28, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

KOPEK – Ireland’s increasingly embraced, Hard Rock trio KOPEK will be seeing their debut album White Collar Lies releasing on March 1st, 2011… that’s tomorrow!! If you are a fan of Rock, Hard Rock or Modern Hard Rock that isn’t representative of the status quo club, then you will absolutely NEED to get your ears into this KOPEK album! Since January of this year, KOPEK have been touring the U.S.A. and are receiving rave reviews for their live shows!

Stone says this KOPEK album is a MUST buy! I very rarely state these words and I’m laying all the Hard Rockin’ cards out on the table, especially when I endorse a band’s album this highly. KOPEK is going to be HUGE.

* White Collar Lies is being released on Religion Music via SIN/Sony Independent Network.

KOPEK:

Daniel Jordan – lead vocals & guitar

Brad Kinsella – bass guitar

Shane Cooney – drums

Track Listing For White Collar Lies:

Cocaine Chest Pains

White Collar Lies

Fever

Love Is Dead

Floridian

Sub Human

The Easy Way (D.B. Cooper)

Bring It On Home

Love Sick Blues

Bigger Than Us All

Sin City

* To read my complete album review on White Collar Lies, just click on the large header link below:

KOPEK “WHITE COLLAR LIES” – DEBUT ALBUM IS A PRESENT & FUTURE STANDOUT OF MODERN ROCK

LONG LIVE KOPEK.

Stone.

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STRAIGHT LINE STITCH – ADDED TO 2011 DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL!

Posted in concerts, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal festivals, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , on February 28, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

(Photo Credit: Tom Medvedich)

(New York, NY) — STRAIGHT LINE STITCH have been confirmed for this year’s DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL held in Donington Park, UK from June 10th through June 12th. Sharing the stage with legends as LINKIN PARK, DEF LEPPARD and SYSTEM OF A DOWN. Front woman Alexis Brown comments, “I feel by us being added to Download that we’ve been handed a huge opportunity. I can’t wait to see what lies in store. The line up is pretty sick too!” This will also be the band’s first official performance in the United Kingdom and outside the US. More information on DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL can be found on their website, tickets are on sale now. Click here for info: DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL

* For more info on STRAIGHT LINE STITCH, click the link below:

Straight Line Stitch – MySpace.com

* For more current Rockin’ news releases on STRAIGHT LINE STITCH, click the large header link below:

STRAIGHT LINE STITCH – Reveals More New Album Info, Premieres Another Brand New Song, Pre-Order Available!

LONG LIVE STRAIGHT LINE STITCH.

Stone.

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SYMFONIA – All-Star Melodic Metal Project To Release Debut Via Armoury Records This April! New Song Stream Available!

Posted in Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, melodic metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, Power Metal, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , on February 28, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

SYMFONIA — the new Melodic Metal project featuring the all-star lineup of guitarist Timo Tolkki (ex-Stratovarius), vocalist Andre Matos (ex-Angra), drummer Uli Kusch (ex-Helloween), bassist Jari Kainulainen (ex-Stratovarius) and keyboardist Mikko Harkin (ex-Sonata Artica) — are gearing up to release their debut full-length. Titled In Paradisum, the ten-track offering was recorded mainly in Finland, mixed and mastered in Italy and produced by Timo Tolkki. The record will be released in North America via Armoury Records on April 19, 2011.

To check out a stream of “Pilgrim Road,” the sixth track off In Paradisum, visit the band’s official website HERE [click the “News” link].

In Paradisum Track Listing:

01. Fields Of Avalon

02. Come By The Hills

03. Santiago

04. Alayna

05. Forevermore

06. Pilgrim Road

07. In Paradisum

08. Rhapsody In Black

09. I Walk In Neon

10. Don’t Let me Go

Honoring the heritage of their previous bands, SYMFONIA is a force no serious melodic metal fan will be able to ignore. The band made its live debut on February 18 at the Finnish Metal Expo in Helsinki, Finland. To check out some fan-filmed video footage, point your browser HERE.

(Source: Earsplit PR)

* For more info on Symfonia, click the links below:

http://www.symfonia.fi

http://www.eaglerockent.com

LONG LIVE SYMFONIA.

Stone.

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Neal Schon – Metal Odyssey Salutes Rock Legend’s Birthday!

Posted in celebrity birthdays, classic rock, guitar legends, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on February 27, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

(That’s Neal Schon, in the top left/back row. This Next album from 1977 was Journey’s third studio album and pre-Steve Perry)

NEAL SCHON – Metal Odyssey gives a loud and Rockin’ Happy Birthday to Neal Schon! A founding member and non-stop lead guitarist for the ultra-legendary Journey, Neal Schon was born on February 27th, 1954. How can anyone measure the Rock ‘N’ Roll career and achievements of Neal Schon? I couldn’t. This is as key a figure in the history of Rock as you can ask for. Neal Schon is an influential guitarist, songwriter and figure of the Rock Music world spanning five decades. Thank you for the music Neal Schon!

My personal favorite Journey song of all-time is Any Way You Want It from 1980’s Departure. My second favorite Journey song ever is: The Party’s Over (Hopelessly In Love) which is the lone studio song on the 1981 live double album – Captured. I always have a soft spot for that little guitar solo that Neal Schon created in Don’t Stop Believin’ from 1981’s Escape.

As for my all-time favorite Journey album? Man, it’s tough. I’m going with two here: Infinity from 1978 and Evolution from 1979. The entire Journey catalog is just too rich with enormously memorable songs for me.

* Here is a list of some notable bands that Neal Schon has been a key part of during his amazing career. By no means is this list complete and in no particular order, that is not my intent here.

JOURNEY – (of course and ’nuff said)

HSAS – (with Sammy Hagar, Kenny Aaronson and Michael Shrieve). HSAS released only one studio album: Through The Fire back in 1984. Yes, take my Metal word for it, it’s a very cool Hard Rock album to own.

BAD ENGLISH – (with John Waite, Ricky Phillips, Jonathan Cain and Deen Castronovo). Bad English released two studio albums: Bad English in 1989 and Backlash in 1991. An excellent Hard Rock group was Bad English, both albums are very worthy listens.

SANTANA – Neal Schon played guitar on Santana III, which was released back in 1971. Neal Schon was only 17 years old then! Neal also played guitar on Caravanserai (1972). Rock history, pure and simple.

HARDLINE – Neal Schon played lead guitar on Hardline’s debut 1992 studio album: Double Eclipse. This is one fabulous Hard Rock album to get ahold of… if you haven’t already.

* For more info on Neal Schon, click here: NEAL SCHON – Official Website

* For more info on Journey, click here: JOURNEY

LONG LIVE NEAL SCHON.

Stone.

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ROTTEN SOUND “Cursed” – Releases In U.S. On March 15th, 2011!

Posted in Death Metal, deathgrind, Extreme Metal, grindcore, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on February 26, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

ROTTEN SOUND – Finland’s Deathgrind/Grindcore warriors Rotten Sound have returned with another studio album of 16 new songs titled: Cursed. This new album is releasing on March 15th, 2011, on Relapse Records. Rotten Sound is currently on tour in the U.S.A. and are spreading their legendary, ultra-aggressive and Extreme Metal sound on the East Coast. Here are the current U.S. tour dates:

02/26/11 – New York, NY @ The Gramercy Theatre

02/27/11 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium

02/28/11 – West Springfiled, VA @ Jaxx

03/01/11 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Trocadero

03/02/11 – West Springfield, VA @ Jaxx

03/03/11 – Charlotte, NC @ The Casbah

03/04/11 – Raleigh, NC @ Volume 11 Tavern

ROTTEN SOUND:

Keijo Niinimaa – vocals

Mika Aalto – guitar

Sami Latva – drums

Kristian Toivainen – bass

Track Listing For Cursed:

Alone

Superior

Self

Choose

Hollow

Ritual

Green

Machinery

Power

Plan

Declare

Addict

Exploit

Terrified

Scared

Doomed

* For more info on ROTTEN SOUND, click on the links below:

ROTTEN SOUND – myspace music

RELAPSE RECORDS

LONG LIVE ROTTEN SOUND.

Stone.

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The 53rd Grammy Awards – Some Hard Rock and Metal Thoughts…

Posted in Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal songs, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , on February 25, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

53rd GRAMMY AWARDS – On February 13, 2011, the 53rd Grammy Awards took place. Yippee. Planet Earth is saved once again. Generations of Metalheads are so honored to have a select few of our bands nominated by this red carpet billionaire’s club. Per usual, the “establishment” behind the Grammy Awards has not a remote clue in knowing the difference between Hard Rock and Metal. Here is Exhibit A in explaining my Metal point:

Ozzy Osbourne is NOT a Hard Rock artist. Um, no. So, why was Ozzy Osbourne nominated for “Best Hard Rock Performance” with Let Me Hear You Scream from his 2010 Scream album? I’ve listened to this song enough times to realize it’s NOT Hard Rock. Yes, Ozzy has been known for his ballads in the past, Goodbye To Romance, So Tired and Mama I’m Coming Home are a few examples. These Ozzy ballads can very well be considered Hard Rock. My argument is, Let Me Hear You Scream is NOT a ballad, it is Heavy Metal or Metal, whichever you prefer. Therefore, WTF am I missing here? Calling this Ozzy song Hard Rock is like calling Slayer’s Reign In Blood album… Modern Rock.

Any astute fan of Ozzy Osbourne and/or Heavy Metal will agree, that 95% of Ozzy Osbourne’s music catalog is… Metal or Heavy Metal, whichever you prefer once again. Plus, 95% is probably too low. It’s very sad, that  the “decision makers” behind the Grammy Awards cannot tell the difference between world known and historic Rock genres such as Hard Rock and Metal. It’s like not knowing the difference between a beer and an ale. There is a difference! Ozzy Osbourne is extremely deserved of a Grammy Award for Let Me Hear You Scream, make no mistake about it. Ozzy was also deserved of many, many, many, other missed nominations for a Grammy award in the past as well. Metal be thy name.

When it came down to “Best Metal Performance”, that so-called sacred institution called the Grammys got it right with all of their nominations being Metal. Big deal. Their supposed to get it right for Metal sakes. However, the Grammys are decades late in honoring the ultra-legendary Iron Maiden. El Dorado from their 2010 studio album, The Final Frontier, was nominated for this “coveted” award and won. In my Metal opinion, the first five Iron Maiden albums are superior to that of The Final Frontier. Self-titled (1980), Killers (1981), The Number Of The Beast (1982), Piece Of Mind (1983) and Powerslave (1984) are audio textbooks for Metal 101. I will even add the 1988 album, Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son, to this list of Iron Maiden excellence. These are the influential and legendary Iron Maiden albums, the albums that bulldozed the path for countless Metal bands to travel, spanning into a fourth decade now.

I realize that a “Best Metal Performance” never existed during the years when Iron Maiden’s first five albums were released. This Grammy category did exist back in 2007 and Iron Maiden’s 2006 studio album A Matter Of Life And Death was ignored, which is a superior album to that of The Final Frontier as well. Am I happy for Iron Maiden winning the “Best Metal Performance” Grammy? Of course I am. The mainstream Grammys acknowledging Iron Maiden for their Metal contribution(s) has been long overdue. Do you think Iron Maiden cares if I’m happy for them? I doubt it. I will close with this, Iron Maiden should know where their true glory reigns within their album of catalogs and The Final Frontier is not in the same class with their previous albums I mentioned. Some may disagree with me, only I do know that I’m not alone in my Metal thinking.

LONG LIVE OZZY OSBOURNE.

LONG LIVE IRON MAIDEN.

Stone.

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Classic Rock… What Would I Do Without You?

Posted in classic rock, classic rock bands, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on February 24, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

CLASSIC ROCK – Yes, I will admit, the thought of a world without Classic Rock is a bit scary. Just in the last couple of days, I thought to myself, what would I do without Classic Rock? If it wasn’t for the bands, solo musicians and albums of Rock ‘N’ Roll’s yesteryears would Metal as we all know and love it in 2011 be the same? What would Rock and Hard Rock have sounded like the past 20 years without Classic Rock? The Classic Rock bands that I turn to on a consistent listening basis, are equivalent to comfort food. My mashed potatoes and chicken pot pies of Rock ‘N’ Roll.

Truthfully, bands like the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Queen, Pink Floyd, Styx, The Doors, Deep Purple, Rainbow, Cheap Trick, Foreigner, Heart, Bad Company, Grand Funk Railroad, Yes, Sweet, Asia and Boston give me an engulfing sense that everything is either alright or it’s gonna be alright. There are countless more Classic Rock bands that I can rattle off here, of course. These bands and their albums have forever been linked to moments I’ve experienced through life, good or bad, from a young lad to adulthood. Certainly, any fan of music knows what I’m getting at here… I hope.

I can’t leave out KISS… their 1970’s catalog of albums can realistically be tagged as Classic Rock, regardless of the Hard Rock and Heavy Metal that they are so famously known for. How about Motörhead? Can a case be made that this iconic Rock ‘N’ Roll band’s legacy is, after all, Classic Rock worthy? Am I just getting too damned sentimental in my thoughts? Am I becoming this big old softy after all? Classic Rock is synonymous with good times. That’s just the way I feel about this era of Rock ‘N’ Roll.

There will never be another 1950’s, 1960’s, 1970’s or 1980’s. Those are all decades that will continue to live on through their respective music, with no genre excluded. No decade can ever be duplicated for it’s pop-cultural or Rock ‘N’ Roll impact. Duplication of a Classic Rock sound and/or style is merely called influence. Classic Rock grows it’s roots deeper into the fabric of Rock ‘N’ Roll history with each passing day. There are young bands of today that will inevitably be looked upon as influential and classic as well… 25 or 30 years down the road by different generations of fans.

Who are these bands of today that will be the Classic Rock influences of tomorrow? Is it Kopek? Rooney? My Darkest Days? Pop Evil? Daughtry? Sons Of Sylvia? I never thought of this question when I was a young lad. I used to think that the bands I listened to back then would not be around once I turned, um, the age I am now. Man, was I ever wrong! I’m very glad that I was wrong too.

LONG LIVE CLASSIC ROCK.

Stone.

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